Confluence 2011 Podcasts - Anna Carlson

Fear Not, Alternative Forms of Critique

“My artistic journey began as a child; I loved to make paper dolls and cut out dresses from wallpaper sample books.” From 1990–2006, Anna Carlson showed her clothing collections across the country in prestigious art/craft shows, galleries, and specialty boutiques. Current work with dimensional surfaces combines her interests in merging hand and digital processes. A full-time MFA student and surface design instructor, Carlson also maintains a studio practice, with projects spanning from bedding and rug designs to historic textile reproductions.

Anna Carlson, a self-described Twin Cities person, presented her ideas about critiques to an audience at the Surface Design conference. Carlson is a studio artist who has maintained a studio in St. Paul for 15 years. She is both a student and a teacher at the University of Minnesota’s College of Design. She teaches surface and apparel design and is pursuing a Master of Fine Arts degree. These roles of practicing studio artist, teacher and student place her in a unique position to tackle the challenging issue of critiquing art works and students` progress.

The critique has become a standard part of the art teaching curriculum. Artists as well often experience critiques of their works either formally, through reviews, or informally by participating in study groups or review groups. Yet the process is often unsatisfactory. Carlson’s methods are aimed at eliminating fear and making the critique formative: to take place before the work is finished. Carlson provided a detailed handout setting out the goals and objectives to be achieved in the critique. These were supported by a comprehensive bibliography. This presentation benefitted both educators and artists.

Congrats to all of this year's Textiles/Fibers/Materials/Fashion grads! We've saved a spot at Surface Design Association for you! Plus, discounted membership rates apply for up to 2 years after graduation. Here's how it works: http://bit.ly/1By76SD

Google funds smart textiles, here:

Project Jacquardwww.google.comProject Jacquard makes it possible to weave touch and gesture interactivity into any textile using standard, industrial looms.

Did you know that Surface Design Association has many local/regional groups who gather throughout the year to network, collaborate, and learn? Ellen Schiffman, Connecticut SDA State Representative, reports on her group's recent successes and shares a great photo from Leslie Giuliani's June workshop on encaustic + fiber.

From Ellen Schiffman, Connecticut SDA State Rep: "I am delighted by the many instances I am hearing about CT SDA members connecting to and supporting each other. People are inviting others to their studios and homes to teach techniques, people are buying each other's work, people are curating shows and asking other members to participate, people are helping each other photograph work and design websites, people are sharing supplies, people have volunteered to lead workshops for the group in the coming year....... people are becoming friends! In a little over a year we have become a community of fiber artists eager both to support each other and welcome others into our fold. Congratulations group - keep up the good work!"

Liberty and #embroidery: for the 800th anniversary of the #MagnaCarta, Cornelia Parker embroidered the entirety of its Wikipedia entry.

Stitch in timewww.economist.com...a tapestry that replicates the entire Wikipedia article on the Magna Carta, stitched by an army of professional embroiderers, 36 prisoners, lawyers, journalists and campaigners.

bit.lywww.al.com﻿The National Endowment for the Arts announced Tuesday that three quilters from Gee's Bend have been awarded the 2015 National Heritage Fellowship, the nation's highest award for folk and traditional arts.

Timeline PhotosTechnology and textiles was the focus for a show at the @[69099504112:274:San Jose Museum of Quilts & Textiles] and subsequent article written by Deborah Corsini in the current @[124705604332:274:Surface Design Association] Journal. My piece “Evolutionary Design” that incorporates recycled CD’s embossed, heat pressed and strung together in a large free-hanging curved installation and speaks to natural and digital forms of information storage, was featured in the show and in this article about the many ways textile artists incorporate digital technology within their process and inspiration. My piece hangs in a large curve so one can walk in and feel surrounded, measuring 9.5 ft tall, 4 feet wide and 6 inches deep.

Tips and Tools for Artistswww.pinterest.comTips & Tools on Marketing, Shipping Artwork, Publishing, and many other topics relevant to today's textile & fiber artists, and artists in other media. Courtesy of the Surface Design Association Newsblog.